I Faked a Pregnancy, but My Husband Returned - Chapter 43

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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“What is it?”

Ekian asked casually. In truth, he was inwardly pondering how he could prevent Huyd from attending the Imperial Palace banquet.

As long as Huyd wasn’t making any preparations, there were many ways. The more cowardly he became, the more varied and easier those methods became.

‘At least I can’t let him dance with her.’

According to his conversations with Judith so far, she hadn’t properly danced since she was seventeen. It was natural. She had been too busy paying off debts.

In a way, it would be her first dance as an adult. And as always, dancing involved a lot of physical contact.

He couldn’t give such an opportunity to Huyd. Just thinking about it made his blood boil and his chest feel tight.

Meanwhile, Judith spoke with shy, reddened cheeks.

“Um… actually, I’ve finished thinking about how I’ll live after leaving the Meius Mansion.”

“Yes?”

“Soon I’ll announce the miscarriage and return the Meius surname. I can’t keep insisting a non-existent child exists. It was something I started just to buy a few months of time anyway.”

“…Well, that’s true.”

“But I keep worrying.”

“About what?”

“About the Meius Ducal House.”

Judith sighed deeply and pressed her forehead.

“The Emperor definitely won’t stay still… In the midst of that, it doesn’t sit well with me to turn around and leave alone, then immediately become happy with another man…”

“Wait a moment.”

Ekian interrupted, his eyes widening behind his mask.

“Become happy with another man?”

“Ah… I can do that now. I’m free since I have no debts anymore.”

“But what do you mean you can immediately become happy…”

“Well, um, the man I’m interested in knows my situation well. He knows I’m not really pregnant, and he knows I was planning to divorce from the beginning…”

Judith continued speaking carelessly, not even noticing Ekian’s roughened breathing.

“That man seems to like me too, so I think there wouldn’t be much difficulty in continuing things after I leave here. Well, at least that’s just my own thinking for now.”

Ekian was so shocked he couldn’t continue speaking.

A man who knew all these circumstances and liked her… Wasn’t that Huyd Soden!

Since he had been thinking about Huyd Soden all along, it was natural for him to think that way. Everything had been related to Huyd.

Indeed, hadn’t Judith been smiling so shyly and prettily since last time, saying there was a man who liked her? While saying her heart was also going to him.

Then it was possible for her to leave the Meius Ducal House and live happily!

Suddenly, Ekian felt disgusted with himself.

He had been doing nothing all this time. While there were many things he disliked and found irritating, he used the single reason that he wasn’t in a position to dare step forward because of his cursed birth.

But was it really right for him to stay still like this?

He had thought that his disappearance was for Meius’s sake, but had Meius really been safe during the 5 years he was gone?

It seemed safe, but in the end, it had been exposed to countless dangers. Without Judith, tragedy would have befallen the Meius Ducal House before long.

“But the Meius Ducal House isn’t like that. Even if I leave, it’s dangerous.”

While he was lost in self-deprecating thoughts, Judith continued speaking.

“I know that someone insignificant like me isn’t in a position to dare worry about Meius. But at least my feelings for Mother, Father, and Karl are sincere, so I think staying in this position is right. I might be able to help somehow.”

Judith even clenched her fists and argued earnestly.

“Well, even after the miscarriage, I can stay here as Ekian’s wife. Of course, if I do that, that man and I won’t be able to immediately become happy outside…”

“That’s quite a good idea.”

Ekian, who had been quietly listening, spoke without realizing it.

“The Meius Marquis couple also cherish Judith, and Karl follows you too, doesn’t he? Then there’s no real need to leave. There are many things in the world more important than men.”

“Hm? Oh my.”

“I think it’s right for Judith to stay longer at the Meius Ducal House.”

Ekian slowly rested his chin on his hand. Then he muttered without realizing it.

“…In doing so, Ekian Meius might return…”

“I told you he won’t come back.”

“Well, you never know. As Judith said, if Ekian knew danger had befallen the ducal house, he might reveal himself.”

“Hmm.”

“If he judged it was a better path for his parents than hiding.”

“That would be somewhat reassuring.”

Judith smiled, slightly drooping her eyebrows.

“Then I think I could leave with peace of mind. The ducal house would have some breathing room too. Since the person involved came, we could proceed with the divorce properly.”

At those words, Ekian didn’t particularly respond. Even if he returned, he had no intention of granting a divorce.

However, he did think he should prepare for Judith’s divorce demands when he returned.

Judith wiggled her fingers and slowly continued speaking.

“Actually, I really hope Ekian Meius returns. Because as far as I know, Ekian Meius has some friendship with the Crown Prince.”

“Hm? What does that have to do with anything?”

Ekian tilted his head without realizing it.

It was true that he had friendship with the current Crown Prince. In fact, they had been quite close privately, so the Crown Prince had also become very dejected after Ekian’s disappearance.

From the time when he believed without doubt that he was the eldest son of the Meius Ducal House, he had been close to the Crown Prince. In fact, they were half-brothers. Though the Crown Prince probably didn’t know this fact yet.

“I can’t dare summon the Crown Prince, but Ekian Meius would be able to.”

Judith shrugged her shoulders.

“At this banquet, the Emperor will try to assassinate the Crown Prince.”

Ekian’s body froze completely. Glancing at him as the atmosphere grew sharp, Judith shrugged.

“Isn’t it obvious? The Emperor sees the Crown Prince not as a son but as a competitor. He’s been administering various drugs to dull his senses for a long time already.”

The terrifying words continued matter-of-factly.

“If the Crown Prince learns this fact, he’ll begin to seriously oppose the Emperor. That alone would increase the Emperor’s enemies, which would help Meius. After all, the enemy of my enemy is my friend.”

Ekian was momentarily speechless. While he knew the Emperor was a vicious person, he never dreamed he planned to assassinate his own son and heir, especially at the person’s birthday banquet. Moreover, how on earth did Judith know all these facts?

After some time passed, he stammered incoherently.

“How did you… know that.”

“The last Priestess told me.”

Judith smiled brightly.

“Other people might treat my words as crazy talk. But Master knows my words are true, right? Actually, since 3 years ago, all the information I’ve been trading with Master came from what the last Priestess told me.”

Why on earth had his birth mother told Judith such various information… What exactly was the relationship between these two?

Ekian became confused. At the same time, he wondered why his birth mother had taken care of everyone’s happiness from Huyd Soden to the Crown Prince, but hadn’t left a single word for him.

“Judith.”

But burying that puzzlement for now, he had something to discuss with Judith.

“Could you tell me more details about that?”

With a bit of personal interest mixed in.

“It seems like I might be able to help you at the Imperial Palace banquet.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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